Electrochemical apparatus.



'0. P. LANDRETH.

ELECTROCHEMICAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. L4, 1914.

Patented June 6, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

iNvErNToR I M52? 62%;

X5 ATTORNEY 0. P. LANDRETH. 7 ELECTROCHEMICAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I4, I914. 1,186,106. Patented June 6,1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

$2 Q l VENTOR WITNESSES & Y WWW BY M 1/. @m

' ATTORNEY C. P. LANDRETH.

ELECTROCHEMICAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 001114, 1914.

- Patented June 6, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

INVENTOR a g R a 1 WrrNEssEs C I I ATTORNEY of the Well. il as above described. In the which pipes etc which collects in the bottom of the parutus E may be drawn oli through the pipes 22, controlled by the valves 323, comrnunicating; with the pipe ll which leads back into the receiving- Web W from which he sand, mud or sedin' ent delivered through nimy be drawn through pipe 1 th the other matter collected in the bottom All" - 28 and 29, and. particularly when the liquid is required to rise to a higher le el, a top or cover 30 may e s cured to the sides 26 and 27 by bolts 31, packing or gaskets 32 intervening between them. to make a. gas and liquid tight joint. It will be understood, hows-we}; that tank E may be used Without a cover 80. Upon the cover .30 may be one or more brackets 88 through which extend rods to which chains or other means may be attached for lifting or removing the cover Resting upon the bottom 25 and extending transversely of the tank E are the timbers or members 35 between pairs of v 22 connect at the openings 2-13, alternate r embers 35 having in their lower es the openings 37 through Which mud s1 5; or other sediment may pass to an open- El. And disposed between the members 35 are the timbers or plates extending from the upper edges of the members downwardly ,to the edges of the openings 57, thesenieinbers 38 serving to guide sedimentto the openings 36 and 37. Upon the upper edges of the members 35 are strips of insulating material 39 upon which rest at their lower edges the lower banks of positive and negative electrode plates 72 and n, these electrodes having their faces vertical. Upon the upper edges of the lower electrodes are disposed strips of insulating material 40 upon which rest the transverse timbers or strips 4-]. upon which are disposed the strips of insulating material 42 upon which the upper banks of positive and negative electrodes p and n rest at their lower edges.

The positive and negativev electrodes of a no, preferably alternate, and all the positiv electrode plates of an electricul bank may be connected together by conducting hells .23 having at one end the nuts 4% and threaded at their other ends into metal. blocks 45, as best seen in Fig. 4. Flore the a positive plate 39 have small holes in ,ioe

ment with ea other bolts l3 pass, Ll; ue g'at lug large holes in which insulating: inl are e ii-ates j.

thebushiir l3 are Llll metallic bushiu ,1, also servings separators and with th lower 7 rodes the negative plates 1! are connected together by similar lmlts 45, having nuls ll and screw thrczulml at their opposite ends into conducting blocks in this case/the negative plates n huviug tle su'iall holes :uul thc positive plates p having the large holes in which are ClIS- posed 'he insulating bushingslfi and the inner metallic bushings 47. find at the CO1." 11ers oil the electrode plute: us izuliratrvl at 50, Figs. (3 and they may be secured together and insulated from each other by separators T he bolts 6 and l serve to electrically interconnect the pos ive and neguiive electrodes respectively; electrical connection with the bolts-43 is made by con: ducting studs 51 screw thruuled into the blocks 45 and extending through the stulling box SQprovided with the parking 53 and the gland 5%; and electrical connection is made with the bolts 48 by the conducting studs 55 extending through similar stutling;- boxes and threaded into the blocks 49.) the smiling boxes serving to make liquid tight joints between the conducting studs Si and .35 and the ivall-of the tank E.

To prpgwrly space the electrodes longitufaces of the Walls 26 and 5211 these frames 57 serving as a skeleton or frame for the tank ll whose sides 26 and 27 are drawn toward each other by bolts 58 cxtending'through the sides 2G and 27 and the frames 57, a metal strap 59 being provided on the oulsides. The electrodes j? and u may have circulur apertures, at any suitable number o'l places, two in the case here illustrated, within which rotate the bosses 60 on the paddles G1 which rotate between and substantially in conluclv with neig lilun'iire electrode plates, relation being imparted by the square or otherwise suitahl shuped shalt ($2 extruding through the he of oue set each paddle having in its side ()Phlfiltfl to he boss 60 a countersink (33 into which the (ll) of the neighboring paddle lils. The side Walls are aperturerh as indicated at U? l 7 to permit tree passage O of all the puddles .c cap 72 screw threzul (X, 1 the nor int: l iianc'es (l8 boltrile cop u iiie cine-r li I tended inio he nnris 66 a sleeve 7c \iLlllll which is the bearing bushing T7 in which the shaft bearing rotates. Over ihe end il the parts 76 and 7'7 is disposed packing To compressed and held in place by the cup 7:) screw threaded to she sleeve 76. by thi consfirucli liquid tight bearing is provided for all the paddle operatingd of e: use is ("ill 21 shaft-s.

At such end o the tank E is 21 pair of o. u sprocket chain 81 enlprocliet wheels i l: and the idlers 3 35 as ini'licuted in Fi 2 and 5, the

soroclrct iin 8] being preferably so ap- Idler sprocicerr gagg ini nil plied to neigh wring sprocket wheels 7% thul; they rotate the two seis of paddles for each unl; oli One the ele rodes in opposite directions. pair of idlei-s Sill for example that at "l of tunic i l Ire secured upon hai ls S2 being driven Fig. fl, controlled by member of the 'iluich through gearing by or :ny other suilalole will be noied from Fig. 8 ljhai 'lhe pudoles ill of one ore disposed at right 21ngzlcs to he paddles of lhe other for the some hunk of electrodes; and that the paddlcs 0' ,he lower bank of electrodes are dis 7 r pectively at righi angles to the pod l or he banks of upper electrodes ime ihein. this being a suitable to allow easy liquid fiow he "n gh it will he underice limited {hero gmcldl-cs l may 1f olher y or reor other movement, lo cleanse urfuees. to zig'il'iiic thcliquid contac with the electrodes, 'qiiidsic breal: i or finely semi-solids. lzl'ierci In the col: .5 an accriu s we o ll 11 end he shafts (l2,

thc (nu-rent siren cs which ihe pipe/8. l, communicates ihrouch the pipe liang'e 87. At the other end oi, the taiilq ut 5 is :1 similar aperture 88 connnunicatin;- with the pipe l$,li r.1.\\'hich is attached lo thc pipe flange 89; At 90 is shown an angular balllc disposed in front of the inlet orilice 86 to cause the fluid to sweep luterally in both directions and provrni masses of liquid standing at rest, or substantial rest. with only a central stream passing through the electrodes. In other words [he bal'llc assists in causing all the urririn liquid to be more or less uniformly disiribulcd co l'he various QlGCnl'OClOiYL At the other end of the tank E there is provided the downwardly Xteni'ling balllc 91 which directs all the iluid toward the boitoln oi" lhe apparatus and above the member 92. in ihc cover 80 nuiy be provided a plural ity of rents or pi pc connectioi'is ll for carrying oil any gases, such as hydri'igen, which may accumulate in the apparatus the result of electrolytic treatment. And whether or no! vents are employed, gas, as hydrogen, lills scum and other nutter to the surface of the liquid, and it passes along the tank with the gas in the clca 'ance space be; tween the covcr and the liquid, and both gas and scum are cur the downward deflection caused by the member 91. lly this action. the gas cannot c01- lect in the top of the tank to extentsufiicient to form a gas pocket which would roach lower and lowcrnnd uncover the electrodes more and more.

The elcclrodcs p and n may be connected in circuit in any'suitablc relation. By preference, however, the positive electrodes of each bnnl: are electrically connected together, as are the negative electrodes, and the various banks of electrodes may be connected in series with each other, as indicated in Fig. 10, or may be connected in parallel with nch other, or in series-parallel-groupings, current being delivered byany suitable source of current, such as a direct current generator G having the field winding 7 conirolled by the adjustable resistance r, and adjuslable resisiance r being connected in the circuit of the electrodes if dcsireci. Variation of either of the resistzincs r, a, or both, will cause avariation of gih passed ihrough the liquid between the electrodes, in some cases the current being: increased, when the liquid under treatment contains free alkali, to pro' duce lri'droxid of the positive electrode Inar'ierial, generally iron, or the current may be reduced to such value that only nascent ()X;\' gen is n'odnced under such alkaline conditions, as set forth-in my co-pendingapplication Serial Number 866,198, filed October 12, lfll i (Patented ll lay 18, 1915, No. 1,139,778).

As set forth in Letters Patent No.

ried out with the liquid by {M a L. 18

scvva sub ected to nascent oxygen by 0 contain free alkali J, and rcnce plate steel. suitable oj stnient the current, strength at a given a kalinity of the liquid nascent oxygen only 1 ill be formed Without, forming iron hydro id from the steel positire electrode. However, by keeping the alkalinity the sanie and increasing the current strenglh both nascent oxygen and hy droxid flock otthe positive ,electrodeinetal will he, formed. 'And With the same current strength the alkalinity may he still further increased, in which case the at-tack *ill be reduced or become substantially nothing and only "the nascentoxygen produced.

The negative electrodes 92 may in general be of any suitable material, such as carbon or metal, though hecaus of cheapness the negative electrodes are generally also of plate steel. The alkali such as calcium l'I VClI'OXlCl, sodiuni hydroxiu, potassium hydroxid, or any other suitable material, is stored in the tank ll and delivered into the liquid to be treated through either the pipe 16, pipe 18, or pipe 20, depending upon which of the valves 17, 19, or Ql is open, or they may be open in an I combination. In general, however, reagent isintroduced through the pipe 20 when one or more of the groups ct electrodes encounteredhy the liquid are of carbon, as may be the case when the liquid to treated contains an ionizahle salt, such, for example, as sodium chlorid, in which casehy mchlorite is formed at the carbon BlGCtlOQQS, as well oxygen, the hypochlorite acting as a gerniicide and assist-in in the production of oxygen for oxidizing any oxidizable con tent. Or the apparatus described may be used for Water softening, thatis, for removing by electrochemical treatment the in.- crustating salts in solution in the liquid or water; or it may he used for removing iiuely'divided suspended matter, as, for example, described in my (lo-pending application Serial h umher't3,9t)9- filed August 6,

It will be understood that, the raw liquid is introduced from the pipe .8 into the receivin well llhlor directly into pipe 3, from which it passes by gravity orally pump through the eloctrolyzer E and thence through the pipe 6 into the sedimentation tank T here any precipitate or insoluble matter Will settle, and the clear eilluent asses oil through the pipe 7 into a stream,

ease

or to the point Where it is to he used. And the sediment, such as material ("ll'llOCl down by iiocculent, or any other mat l precipitz ted, may he di,

etlto' liquid is mo 0 or V v e. from the SOllil matter when desire l, tracted liquid flowing through pi;

ii: the va Tu 12 is open, through the and out with the remainder of the cr ei through pipe 7. And if the valve 14 is opened the prcliniinzngily extracted sediment and coarse objects will pass from the hofitoin of well lV through pipe 1 and through pipe 13 into the sludge or othersolids drying apparatus P Where this sediment and these objects will he introduced into the sludge and dried with it and then disposed of in arv suitable way. And since this material arr; i 5 at she device 1." through pipe 13 contains raw untreated liquid, the liquid extracted can he passed back through pipe 9 into pipe 1 where its treatment in the apparatus E Will be insured. it will he uniilerstood also-that the raw lituid [1121 be directl introduced into the elcctrolvzcr 1) through pipe 25, Whilout first passing into the receiving: well W. t [.r l 1' 1.1 JLlld. it. ill be Iuirhcr allKlBleeOOfl that we 4- v i L 4'.

created liquid may pass directly iroin the tank E to waste or other desired point through the valve S, Without first going to the tank '1. find it Will ha also understood that when it is not desired to separate the liquid from the sludge or sediment of tank T, the valve S may be closed and the valve 8 may he opcncd, allowing the contcnle or the tank ll to flow directly to waste or other desired point. Between the delivery pipe S and the well ll may intervene a screen a which may collect anv very large objects or in the delivered. liquid or sewage.

This application is in part a continuation of my application Serial Number Sir-2,103 filed June 9, 1014, which is in turn a continuation in part of my application Serial Number 804,796 filed December 5, 1913.

I What I claim is:

1. The combination with nians for dclivcring liquid, of means for coarsely strain ing the same, means for passing coarsely strained liquid, between electrodes, means between said electrodes for mechanically subdividing the solids in the liquid, and, a source .of current connected to said electrodes.

2. The combination with means for delivcrin li( uid' of in mus for coarscl T strainin from liquid connected to said last named discharge,

3. In a liquid treating system of the character described, the combination With a rece 'ng tank, electrolyzing apparatus receiving liquid from said tank, a sedimentation tank receiving liquid from said electrolyzing apparatus, a clear liquid discharge from said sedimentation tank, a connection from said discharge to saidreceiving tank, a discharge from said sedimentation tank for liquid. containing si'ispended matter, means connected with said last named discharge for separating suspended matter from liquid, and a liquid connection from said last named means to-said clear liquid dis charge.

in a liquid treating system or" the character described, the combination with a re ceiving' tank, electrolyzing apparatus receiving liquid from said tank, a sedimentation tank receiving liquid from said electrolya i119; apparatus, a clear liquid discharge from said sedimentation tank, connection from said disclia to said receiving tank, adischarge from, said sedimentation tank for liquid containing suspended matter, means connected with said last named discharge for separating; suspended matter from liquid, and a liquid connection from said last named means to said receiving tank.

5. in a liquid treating system of the character described, the combination with a receiving' tank, eiectrolyxin r apparatus receivliquid from said tank, a sedimentation tank iecci'viiu; liquid from said eleclrolyzing apparatus, a clear liquid discharge from said sedimentation tank, a discharge lt'rom said sedimentation tank for liquid contain sus 'icnded matter, means connected with said last named discharge separating; suspended matter from liquid, and a liquid connection from said last named means to said receiving tank.

3. in a liquid treating system of the cum: acter described, the combination with a re ceiring tank. olectrolyzing apparatus rcceiw ingg' liquid from said tank, a sedimentation tank receiving liquid from paid electrolysing apparatus, a clear liquid discharge *c in said sedimentation tank. a discharge from said sedimentation tank for liquid containing suspended matter, means connected with said. last named discharge for separating suspended matter from liquid, and a connection for delivering liquid containing suspended mailer from said receiving tank to said last named means. i

in a liquid treating system of the character described, the. combination with a receivinc; tank, clectrolyzing apparatus receiv ing' liquid from said tank, a sedimentation tank rec ining liquid fronrsaid electrolysingapparatus, a clear liquid discharge from said sedimentation tank, a discharge from said sedimentation tank for liquid containing suspended matter, means connected with said last named discharge for separating suspended matter from liquid, a connection for delivering liquid containing suspended matter from said receiving tank to said last named means, and a liquid discharge from said last named means communicating with said clear liquid discharge.

8. in combination, means for delivering liquid, a receivin tank for the liquid, electrolytic treating zq paratus, means for conveying said liquid from said tank to said electrolytic treating zq'iparatus, inc-ans for introducing a rc-agcnt into said liquid, a receptacle for the treated liquid, and means for separating the liquid "roni the solids of said treated liquid.

9. In combination, means for delivering liquid, a receiving tank for the liquid, electrolytic treatingapparatus, means for conveying-said liquid from said. tank to said electrolytic treating apparatus,-means "for introdrujring a re-agl'l'znt into said liquid,a sedimentation tank receiving the treated liquid, means connected with said sedimentation tank for separating the liquid from the solids collected in said sedimentation tank, and means for returning separated liquid to said receiving tank,

10. in liquid treatingapparatus, the coinliiuation with a liquid receiving k, of an electrolyzer into which liquid is delivered from said receiving tank, a sedimentation tank to which treated liquid is delivered, a clear liquid discharge from said scfiu'ientation tank, and a connection from. said sedimentation tank below said discharge for con vflylll i, sediment to means for extracting liquid from said sediment.

11. in liquid treating a ipara'tus, the coniliination Willi a liquid receiving tank, of an elcctrclyzzer into which liquid is delivered from said receiving tank, a sedimentation tank to which treated liquid is delivered, a connection from said tanlcfor conveying scdiment to means lcr extracting liquid from said sediment, and a connection from said last named means to said receiving tank.

12. in liquid treating apparatus, the com hination with a liquid receiving tank, of

an clectrolyzer into which liquid is delivcred from said receiving tank, asedin'ientation tank to which treated liquid is delivere l, a connection from. said tank for conveying sediment to means for extracting liquid. from said sediment, a connection for conveying sediment from said receiving tank to said last named means, and a connection from said means for conveying extracted liquid back into said receiving 13. in liquid treating apparatus, the conn bination with a liquid receiving tank, ofan electrolyzer into which liquid is delivered from said receiving tank, a sedimentation tank to which i'i'eaied liquid is delivered, means for extracting liquid from sediment, a. connection from said receiving tank for conveying sediment to said means, an el'lluent connection to said sedimentation tank, and a connection from said last named means to said efllucnt connection.

M. In liquid treating apparatus, the coin.-

- bination with a liquid receiving tank, of an llel to trodes.

1?. ln an. elect 'olvzer the combination -1 7 I x I Q with electrodes having Vertical laces, a

sediment receiving pocket disposed beneati said else-trod; and a paddle revolving been and parallel to said electrodes,

18. in an electrolyaer, the combination with a plurality of groups of electrodes, of sediment re "ring pockets associated with said electrodes, and paddles revolving be tween and parallel to said electrodes.

155 in an electrolyxer, the con'ibinatioir with a plurality groups of electrodes, of sediment receiving pockets associated with said electrodes. paddles revolving between and. parallel to said. electrodes, and connections from said pockets to a common sediincnt conductor.

in an electrolyzer, a plurality of vertical groups of electrodes, a horizontal tank in which said groups a1 disposed in succession longitudinally oi? tank, and transversely extending sediment receiving pockets beneath aid electrol in said tank.

21. In an electrolyzer, v n electrode and ni nihers nioiahl vertically tween and adjacent said electrode plates.

ln an electrolyzer, v ica plales, ineinl movable I and adjaeen l plates, a a sediment receiving PC-(ZhBil beneatl'i said plates.

23. Bin an electrolyz-z r, a plurality of groups of electrodes, 1 tanlr in which said groups are disposed, nieniltiers disposed between the electrodes of each group, a me char cal connection to members extending through the wall or" tank, and means connecting and driving al connections In an electrolyzer, a tank, a plurality said mechanical of electrodes disposed therein, said. tanlz haw ing a fluid inlet, and a member having inclined faces disposed between said inlet and said electrodesi'or spreading the inflowing liquid. v

In an electrolyzer, the combination with a closed tank, of electrodes disposed therein, and a downwardly inclined wall deflecting the fluid after passing said electrodes.

26. In an electrolyzer, the combination with a horizontally extending tank, of electrodes therein, liquid influx and elliux openings .in said tank, liquid spreading means intervening between the liquid influx opening lllil'Silltl electrodes, and means for deflecting the liquid downwardly after passing the electrodes intervening between said electrodes and said elilug; openin 27. In an electrolyzer, in combination with a tank, of an electrode disposed therein, a member movable with respect to said electrode, a shaft for driving said member, said shaft extending through the wall of said tank, a liquid tight connection between shaft and wall, and a bearing for said shaft in said connection.

The combination with a plurality of electrodes, of paddles disposed between said electrodes, a common driving shaft for said paddles, a boss on each paddle through which said shaft extends, said electrodes h. ving apertures in which said bosses rotate- 29. The combination with a plurality of electrodes, of paddles disposed between said electrodes, common driving shaft fora said vpaddles, a boss on each paddle through which said shaft extends, said electrodes having apertures in which said bosses rot i said paddles having; countersinlrs receiving the bosses of neighboring paddles.

30. in electrolyzcr, the coniblnatiini "*ith a tank, a plurality of electrodes disposed in saidtank, transversely extending pocket forming members in the bottom of said tank beneath said electrodes, and an outlet through the bottom of said tanlr through the space between said members.

31, In an QlEClllOljZl', the combination with a, tank, of a plurality of electrodes is posed in said tank, transversely extei'iding pocket twining members in the bottom of said tank beneath said electrodes, and man hers incliningfrom the sides of said tank toward the center of the bottom of said tank between said transverse member In. an electrolyzer,- the combination with a tank, a plurality oil electrodes disposed in said tank, transversely extending members in the bottom of said tank beneath said electrodes, and an outlet through the bottom. of said tank through the space between said members, one or more of said transverse members l'iavingan aperture co 1.-

In an electrolyzer, the combination" With a closed tank, of electrodes disposed therein, and a dowmvardly inclined deflectinn; member, said tank havlng a clearance seacebeneath its cover and above said member.

35. In an electrol zer a closed tank through which liquid flows in a more or less horizontal direction, electrodes Within said tank, and a member for deflecting the flowing liquid downwardly toward the tank outlet, said tank having a clearance space heneath its cover and above said member.

36.1n electrolyzer, a closed tank through which liquid flows-in. a substantially horizontal direction, electrode plates disposed 'vertically in said tank and e1:- tending longitudinally thereof, anda member for deflecting the flowing liquiddown Wardly toward the outlet end of said tank. 9 7. In an electrolyzer, the combination with a substantially horizontal closed tank,

with a substantially horizontal closed tank,

of electrodes disposed therein, a downwardly inclined deflecting member, said tank havin a clearance space beneath its cover and above said member, and a gas outlet corn municating with saidsp ace.

40. In an electrolyzer, a substantially horizontal closed tank, electrodes Within said tank, a member for deflecting the flowing liquid downwardly after passa e beyond said electrodes, and a discharge out let from said tank disposed above the lower end of said deflecting member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aitixed my signature in the presence of the two subscribing Witnesses,

LARENGE P. LAIJDRETPL lVitnesses NELLIE FIELD, Anion S. Maesn. 

